Asean's diversity creates cyber security hurdles

THOSE who have travelled across South-east Asia would have experienced its rich ethnic and cultural diversity - the heart of what makes the region so unique. But it is also this diversity that creates a more intricate and challenging policy and regulatory landscape for businesses to operate in and, more importantly, for governments and businesses alike to adopt comprehensive and consistent approaches to cyber security.

In a world where cybercrime and cyber terrorism are rising at a worrying pace, a united approach to cyber security is increasingly important, especially in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), whose member states are among the world's most exposed to malware and other cyber threats.

Various Asean member states are rising to the challenge by creating legal regimes to protect data from cyber attacks and physical security breaches. Take Indonesia for example, one of the world's most vulnerable countries to cyber attacks. Its recently established National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) is a big step in the right direction, especially in realising key digital economy roadmaps such as Making Indonesia 4.0. It will be important for BSSN to carry out its broad and ambitious mandate through transparent and effective enforcement, in close collaboration with the private sector.